Monday, May 14, 2012

Meet Kirk: Guide Dog Puppy in Training

My name is Kirk and I love kisses!

This
is Kirk - a beautiful, sweet, lovable Labrador puppy. Kirk has a special mission in life; he is
currently in training for Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael. When Kirk graduates he will be the sited
companion and guide for a visually impaired person for an improved quality of
life. Kirk is the living embodiment of
the unending potential and unique bond between dogs and humans.

Kirk must learn basic obedience and how to behave in every possible
situation. He has to learn to be calm
around different sights, smells, sounds, on different walking surfaces, around all
kinds of people, and other animals, etc.
As a part of his training he goes to grocery stores, restaurants, on
neighborhood walks, and to work at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent
Care with his Guide Dog puppy raiser, Cyndi.
Eventually, Kirk must learn what is called “intelligent disobedience”,
which is the ability to disobey an unsafe command. He will also learn how to
guide a person from point A to point B, stop for elevation changes, and how to
avoid obstacles. Needless to say, he is
a VERY smart boy! You can read more about Guide Dog training here.

Hanging out at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care. Don't
be fooled by my puppy-dog eyes - I love coming to work and seeing all
the people!

The
goal is for Kirk to be noticed as little as possible. According to Cyndi, it is his job to be quiet and obedient in all
situations. Because Kirk is a puppy, he
is still learning to be perfectly behaved. So far, Cyndi has been pleasantly
surprised with his calm demeanor. He is truly a model pupil! Inevitably, Cyndi
and Kirk will have to part. As painful as that will be, Cyndi will have the
knowledge that she helped mentor a special young dog for someone who really
needs his love and guidance. If you are
interested in learning more about Guide Dogs for the Blind, check out their
website at http://www.guidedogs.com/.

Dr. Gilman examines Kirk's ear - he is such a good patient!

Special thanks to Cyndi Davis for providing Kirk's bio and the details of his training!